Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABUMBREON’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar named ‘ABUMBREON’ is disclosed, characterized by an intense black color to the flowers. The flower size is medium, double flowers are produced throughout the flowering season. The new variety is a Ranunculus, normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABUMBREON’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy.The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2007.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asRanunculus ‘N 240-04’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietaryvariety referred to as Ranunculus ‘N28-2000/2’. The new variety wasdiscovered in 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resultingfrom the 2007 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare,Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed byvegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selectedplant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture.First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in CamporossoMare, Italy in 2012 and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABUMBREON’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ABUMBREON’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ABUMBREON’ as a new and distinct Ranunculuscultivar:

-   -   1. Intense black coloration to the flowers.    -   2. Medium flower size.    -   3. Double flower throughout flowering season.    -   4. Highly productive plant.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABUMBREON’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘ABUMBREON’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety produces more petals, having a double flower        compared to the semi-double flower of the seed parent.    -   2. Flower size of the new variety is larger, having an average        diameter of 8.5 to 9.5 cm compared to an average diameter of 6.5        to 8.5 cm as found in the seed parent.    -   3. The new variety produces more flowering stems than the seed        parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABUMBREON’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘ABUMBREON’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Petal quantity of the new variety is higher, having a double        flower compared to the semi-double flower of the pollen parent.    -   2. Flower size of the new variety is larger, having an average        diameter of 8.5 to 9.5 cm compared to an average diameter of 6        to 8 cm found in the pollen parent.    -   3. The new variety produces more flowering stems than the pollen        parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABUMBREON’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Ranunculus ‘ABIOSHEKA’. The two Ranunculus varietiesare similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the newvariety ‘ABUMBREON’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flower color of the new variety is nearly black, flower color        of this comparator is medium to dark purple.    -   2. Floral size of the new variety is smaller.    -   3. Foliage arrangement of the new variety is different than this        comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full colorflowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old,grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘ABUMBREON’ plants grown in agreenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has beencultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and describedin the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions ofseason and culture, when considering the present description. By reasonof different climate or culture conditions, differences may arisebetween certain characteristics of the plant and the correspondingcharacteristics of the description. It should be considered as normaland do not modify the essence of the present invention because it willpossible to identify the plant by means of the totality of thecharacteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been plantedon raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growingtemperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C.to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normalsunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABUMBREON’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 15 days at approximately 10-12° C.-   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 20 days.-   Root description: Secondary roots grow from the rhizome and are    fasciculate type.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, semi-erect    vegetation.-   Height to top flower: 50 to 60 cm.-   Plant spread: 35 to 40 cm.-   Growth rate: Medium.-   Branching characteristics: Main floral stems grow from a basal    rosette with 1 or 2 lateral branches, each one of which has a    flower.-   Length of lateral branches: 45 to 55 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.8 to 1.0 cm.-   Texture of lateral branches: Slightly tomentose.-   Internode length: Internodes are extremely close together, forming a    basal rosette.-   Strength of lateral branches: Medium.-   Color of Lateral branches: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).-   Aspect to angle of branches: 20° to 25°.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Usually 2.-   Foliage: The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked heterophyllia,    in relation to the degree of their development and their position on    the plant (base of the plant; floral stem).-   Leaf at the base of the plant:    -   -   Arrangement.—Simple (young leaf, YL); Biternate (mature            leaf, ML).        -   Average length.—27 to 32 cm.        -   Average width.—10 to 20 cm.        -   Overall shape of blade.—Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite            (mature leaf).        -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of            dissection.—Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature            leaves are generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which            is further divided.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Attachment.—Base of the plant.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly tomentose, verrucose,            spotted.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly tomentose, Rugose.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.        -   Appearance bottom surface.—Glossy.        -   Leaf internode length.—The internodes are extremely close            together, forming a basal rosette.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137A); Yellow            Green (RHS 144A) spotted. Young foliage under side: Yellow            Green (RHS 146B). Mature foliage upper side: Green (RHS            137A); Yellow Green (RHS 144A) spots. Mature foliage under            side: Yellow Green (RHS 146B).        -   Venation.—Type: Palmate; plunging in to the limb at the            upper surface; very raised on the limb at the lower surface.            Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Venation            color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).        -   Petiole.—Petiole: Long, tubular, rigid. Length: 17 to 23 cm.            Diameter: 0.5 to 0.6 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.            Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).-   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems (SL):    -   -   Arrangement.—Bitemate.        -   Average length.—15 to 25 cm.        -   Average width.—12 to 15 cm.        -   Overall shape of blade.—Palmatipartite.        -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of            dissection.—Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which            further is divided in many deeply incised lobes.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Attachment.—Floral stems.        -   Margin.—Dentate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly tomentose.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly tomentose.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Glossy.        -   Appearance bottom surface.—Glossy.        -   Leaf internode length.—8 to 10 cm.        -   Color.—Foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137B). Foliage under            side: Green (RHS 138A).        -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous, plunging in to the limb at the            upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower surface.            Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Venation            color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).        -   Petiole.—Petiole: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length: 4 to            14 cm. Diameter: 0.4 to 0.6 cm. Pubescence: Slightly            tomentose.        -   Color.—Yellow Green (RHS 144A).

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Winter to Spring.-   Vase life (cut flower): 10 to 15 days.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Closed bud (CB).—Shape: Flattened globular with a sharp            point. Length: 0.9 to 2.2 cm. Diameter: 1.3 to 2.2 cm.            Color: Green (RHS 137B) and Red Purple (RHS 59A) mixed            together.        -   Slightly open bud (OB).—Shape: Flattened globular. Length:            1.9 to 2.2 cm. Diameter: 2.3 to 2.6 cm. Color: Black            (RHS 202) fading to Purple (RHS N77A) from the margin to the            base.-   Flower size (OF):    -   -   Diameter.—8.5 to 9.5 cm.        -   Height.—2.8 to 3.6 cm.-   Corolla (OF): Round, regular, in the form of a flat section.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very            tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite variable,            according to the position in the corolla, decreasing from            the exterior toward the center. The average size of fully            developed petal is as follows.        -   Lobe length.—4.5 to 5.0 cm.        -   Lobe width.—3.5 to 4.5 cm.        -   Quantity.—Double flower, petals are very numerous an average            range can be 200.        -   Texture.—Silky, thin, resistant.        -   Lobe apex.—Rounded.        -   Lobe shape.—Obovate.        -   Margin.—Crenulate.        -   Aspect.—Fan shape, concave, slightly reflexed when flower is            fully opened.-   Color when opening (CF):    -   -   Upper surface.—Black (RHS 202) fading to Purple (RHS N77A)            from the margin towards the base.        -   Lower surface.—Black (RHS 202) fading to Purple (RHS N77A)            from the margin towards the base.-   Color Fully opened (OF):    -   -   Upper surface (PU).—Red Purple (RHS 59A) fading to Purple            (RHS N79C) from the margin towards the base.        -   Lower surface (PL).—Red Purple (RHS 59A) fading to Purple            (RHS N79C) from the margin towards the base.-   Calyx to sepals (S):    -   -   Quantity per flower.—4 to 6.        -   Shape.—Concave, slightly incurved.        -   Length.—2.0 to 3.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 to 1.4 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Flat to Slightly rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire        -   Texture.—Lower surface is tomentose; Upper surface is            glabrous.        -   Color upper surface.—Yellow Green (RHS 146B).        -   Color lower surface.—Green (RHS 137B); Red Purple (RHS 59A)            along venation.-   Peduncle: None.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—45 to 55 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 to 1.1 cm.        -   Color.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144A).        -   Orientation.—Upright, straight, rigid.        -   Pubescence.—Slightly tomentose.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—Almost completely transformed as petals.-   Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short, fused together at the    center of the corolla in a Purple (RHS N79A) large, flattened,    dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium with a Yellow Green (RHS 144A)    central rift.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Seeds and fruit production not observed.-   Disease to pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Upper and lower temperature tolerance not    observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled greenhouse.    Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates temperatures within USDA    Zones 7 to 11.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plantnamed ‘ABUMBREON’ as herein illustrated and described.